2011 marks 30 years since the first cases of AIDS were diagnosed in the United States. Who would have thought that a strange disease first identified among a small group of gay men in Los Angeles would turn into the leading health issue of our time, killing tens of millions across the globe and threatening the national security of countries all over the world.

This June, the Black AIDS Institute will publish its 2011 State of AIDS in Black America report commemorating 30 years since the first AIDS cases were diagnosed in the United States. The report will include a supplement featuring 30 essays from Black Americans age 30 and younger. We want to hear from this unique generation of Black Americans who have never known life without HIV/AIDS. We invite you to share your thoughts about HIV and AIDS.

Today, Black America bears the brunt of the AIDS epidemic in the United States, accounting for nearly 50% of the estimated 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS, nearly 50% of the 56,000 new cases each year, and almost 50% of AIDS related deaths to date.

What do you think about the HIV/AIDS epidemic? How has it impacted your life? Even if you've not been touched by the disease or don't know anyone who has, we want to know what your think. What do you think should be done to end the epidemic in Black communities? Have you've been tested for HIV? How was that experience for you? Have you ever met someone living with HIV/AIDS? Do you talk about HIV with your friends or partners? What do you talk about? Write to us. Share your thoughts. The world wants to know what young Black America thinks about HIV/AIDS.

Submission requirements: Submissions must be no longer than 800 words. All contributors must be age 30 or younger on June 1, 2011. Submit essays EMBEDDED within your email to 30under30@blackaids.org. Please include a short bio (one paragraph please), a high resolution photo of yourself, and a contact phone number. Due to the high volume of submissions, we can only respond to submissions we intend to publish. Submission deadline is May 1, 2011.

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